NASA has awarded the contract to develop and test a full-scale Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) demonstrator aircraft to Boeing and its assembled industry team.
Future designs will be guided by the improvements presented and evaluated as part of the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator (SFD) programme. These innovations may result in advances in terms of aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
When combined with anticipated developments in propulsion systems, materials, and system architecture, a single-aisle plane with a TTBW configuration could decrease fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30 per cent compared to the most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft of today. This reduction in fuel consumption and emissions would be dependent on the mission. It is the goal of the Sustainable Flight Departures (SFD) initiative to promote the commitment of the civil aviation industry to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050, as well as the goals specified in the United States Aviation Climate Action Plan by the White House.
According to Greg Hyslop, the top engineer at Boeing and executive vice president of Engineering, Test & Technology, the SFD programme has significantly contributed to creating a more sustainable future. It provides a chance to design, build, and test a full-scale experimental aircraft while simultaneously addressing new technological challenges.
In the future, ultrathin wings that are supported by struts with larger spans and greater aspect ratios could make it possible for modern propulsion systems to be installed in low-wing aeroplane layouts. These systems are currently limited because there is not enough space under the wing to accommodate them. To create the demonstrator vehicle, Boeing will utilise parts from previously produced automobiles and combine those parts with brand-new pieces.
The SFD Space Act Agreement will provide financing for $425 million for NASA. In addition, the SFD programme will leverage funding of up to $725 million from Boeing and its industry partners to mould the demonstration programme and fulfil crucial resource requirements. Previous internal investments made by Boeing in sustainable aviation research totalling over $110 million have been made in recent rounds.
Research and development on the TTBW airframe idea were conducted over the course of more than a decade and were funded by NASA, Boeing, and the industry as a whole. During previous NASA programmes, including the agency’s Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Study programme, Boeing carried out extensive research in wind tunnels and utilised computer modelling to enhance the design of the TTBW. NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation programme carried out initial early research on concepts.
